After tonsillectomy surgery, patients have plenty of unpleasant side effects to deal with. Swelling of the uvula, tongue, and throat are usually the first hurdle adults have to deal with post tonsillectomy. Swallowing and breathing can be difficult. This isn’t too surprising, especially considering all that the throat has been through. Icing and gargling with ice water can help reduce this swelling, as can a steroidal treatment. The next problem after tonsillectomy, usually a day or so post-op, is pain in the throat area. Again, no big surprise. Icing is also a good way to treat, as are narcotic pain killers and/or over the counter pain medications. Topical analgesics like throat sprays can also offer some relief.
What surprises many is a phenomena occurring several days into their tonsillectomy recovery- ear pain.
Post Tonsillectomy Ear Pain – Cause and Treatment
Cause
Literally thousands of patients sharing their experiences on this website have commented that their ears hurt after tonsillectomy. Ear pain after tonsillectomy is probably the second or third most common side effect that patients experience- second only to pain and swelling. But why does this happen? There was no scalpel or hot knife near the ears, so why should they feel like they’re being stabbed? The cause of ear pain post tonsillectomy starts at the throat and radiates to the ears. This is called a referred pain. Take a look at the attached diagram and note the lingual nerve. It’s directly connected to the ears and throat.
Treatments and Home Remedies
This referred pain can be quite severe. Often prescribed pain medications do not seem to relieve the ear pain that many experience after tonsillectomy. In addition to the pain medicines patients are taking, there are two home remedies that usually can provide some relief. The first of which is chewing gum. In light of the unpleasant side effect of have sugary residue in and around the throat, most tonsillectomy patients prefer a sugar -free gum. A mint flavor can also feel cooling. Exactly why chewing gum relieves ear pain is hard to say. Certainly activating the muscles around the ears and jaw may help, but more likely, like yawning, gum chewing releases pressure from the ear area.
The second remedy for ear pain after tonsillectomy is applying a heating pad or warm compress to the affected area. Again, the reason for its effectiveness is not entirely clear but most patients describe a relaxing comfort from applying a wet, warm towel or electric heating pad to the affected area. To reduce inflammation, alternate between warm and cold compresses.
-Greg My short bio
Have you found a trick for taking the edge off of ear pain, especially after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy? Please share it in the comments section below. Thank you!
Hi I Had tonsils out Tuesday and from 2nd day my ears have been so sore its unreal and nothing has worked an doctors don’t care but I think iv found a salution wrap a tight bandage around ur head covering both ears don’t seem to have much pain afterwards
Hi I’m Emerson, I’m 18 and I had my tonsillectomy on the 20th of January, day 7 now including op day.
Um I still have excruciating earaches it’s been going since yesterday. Last night I toke my hair out of the pony tail and toke my earrings out as well, seemed to help a little bit. Also taking regular painkillers starts soothing about twenty mins after taking them and lasts about 2-3hours after taking them. It feels as if someone is drilling into my ears with the bluntest drill bit they could find. Hopefully all this pain goes away in the next few days, because I’m having withdrawals from not being at work… I love my job and don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have it. I just want to be pain free so I can return to work.
I’m so glad I found this site. I didn’t know my ears would hurt after a tosillectomy. Well… They don’t hurt – they are literally killing me!! And if they don’t stop hurting imma shoot myself in the head!!! Ahhhhhhh
I find ice pack around my neck soothes the pain and will help reduce Inflammation. Also chewing sugar free gum. Going to try it out today. I am 8 days post op. My left ear throbbs alot and I am also having pain on my left side of tongue. Boy I cant wait either to be pain free.
Good luck.
I’m 14, and had my tonsils out on the 4th of January, 2017. I’m currently on day 7 including the day of surgery and have only started with severe, agonising ear pain today, but it started to show a little yesterday evening. (WARNING. MAY BE VERY TMI)
Day one: I went In for surgery at 10:30 and was woke up from anaesthetic at 11:30. As soon as I regained myself I was able to talk almost immediately. I was drugged up on Morphine, paracetamol, ibuprofen and Ketamine( Ketamine only because of my ADHD). The pain was heavy when I first woke up but the medicine soon set in and I was able to eat and drink about an hour after I’d woke up. The morphine has made me sleep for hours on end, atleast 12-18 hours a day since surgery. I wasn’t in a lot of pain then, and managed to eat quite a lot. I wouldn’t say my pain tolerance was high, with me being only 14 and I haven’t really experienced any major pain like all of you have (childbirth etc) but I did get to eating solids straight away as it was recommended for quick recovery whilst I was drugged up. What I remember eating was a ham and cheese wrap, a cheese string and pepperami’s throughout the day. Most of the food I ate was in the 3-4 hours after me waking up where the painkillers were at their best. Between sleeping in and out, with the hospital bed raised up to a sitting/laying position, and morphine, paracetamol and ibuprofen every 4-6 hours by the nurses, the pain was bearable and trust me, I regret ever underestimating the pain. By the evening, the pain had increased, just in my throat, and I had now started to spit into a cup instead of swallowing. I had been given a burger and chips with orange juice and ice cream for dinner and only managed to eat a chip, a third of the burger, the ice cream(which I mentioned earlier) and the orange juice. I tried to eat as much as possible to scrape away the White/greenish stuff from the cotorising as much as possible so it would scab over and heal ASAP, which I’m grateful for at this current day. Overall I drank and ate a lot.
Day two: It was pretty much the same, I stayed in hospital overnight due to sleep apnea and the doctors wanting to monitor my breathing. I didn’t get much sleep apart from 1 hour naps because I was on a ward with 3 babies, which I didn’t mind, I wasn’t very tired. I had toast for breakfast and drank two glasses of water. Overall the pain was bearable still. I got discharged at 1pm and was home by 2pm. I was able to talk but not shout, and if I talked for too long it’d become painful. When I got home I was extremely tired and drugged on morphine, and remember going to bed straight away. I didn’t eat much, other than a pot noodle and pizza (and a lot of water/ apple juice). I slept for most of the day and restocked on my meds.
Day 3 was the same. I was eating solids and drinking apple juice as well as keeping up on my meds. As soon as I woke I’d take them, and before I slept I would too. The pain had incresed moderately but it was overall still bearable and didn’t cause many problems other than swallowing. However, in the evening I ended up in excruciating pain from constipation. I hadn’t been to the bathroom since the night before the surgery, but had urinated. The pain was much, much more agonising than the pain I’m in now with my ears and throat. I was in tears and screaming, and was paralysed. It felt as if there was something under my ribs to which I took laxatives which helped. I haven’t had any more problems like that so far.
Day 4;I didn’t wake up in any pain, but my mouth was dry, to which i drank juice as well as tablets and ended up writhing in agony. I didn’t eat a lot, and missed out on a lot of meals due to me sleeping. I’d been taking liquid painkillers since the surgery, and they were vile. The morphine tastes disgusting and the ibuprofen tastes like sugary syrup that makes me cough like mad. It numbs my throat for about 2 minutes, so enough for the pain of swallowing to go away. I stopped taking the liquid ibuprofen and paracetamol and resorted to tablets, which are a lot more painful to swallow but much, much more nicer to how my stomach handles them. In the afternoon we went out to my grandparents for my aunts birthday, and I felt great other than a little bit of pain. I did my makeup (which I wasn’t going to do but I felt a lot better and had nothing better to do, so I did.) as soon as I was done then morpine started setting in and I felt unbelievably nauseous. I immediately went to the bathroom and threw up, it burned and scraped most of the gunk in my throat off. It didn’t hurt as much as I expected it to be, and did taste disgusting, but it actually helped the pain. (I don’t recommend forcing yourself to be sick to ease the pain, though.) I managed to eat Chinese food at the party and I was fine for the rest of the night. I’m taking Lansoprazole once a day so the morphine and ibuprofen don’t upset my stomach again.
Day 5;EAR PAIN BEGINS, but only slightly, on and off. The pain is a lot more agonising and I didn’t eat a single thing apart from a slice of pizza and water that day. I slept like a baby most of the night.
Day 6; EAR PAIN IS WORSE, TRUST ME. the pain is at its max and I’ve cried quite a few times (mostly because I can’t eat). I haven’t ate anything in over 24 now hours apart from my meds and apple juice. It’s fine as long as I stay hydrated, right? The pain from not eating isn’t agonising but annoying? I can’t describe the feeling but I’m sure you all know what I’m on about. I’ve been taking pictures of my throat to see the progress of the healing (gross, I know) but It’s improved A LOT. I can now see fresh skin and my mouth is not as swelled, but the pain is horrible especially from my ears.
Day 7; I haven’t slept all night, it’s currently 5am and I’m about to take my meds before I try to sleep without throwing up from the taste. The ear pain now is excruciating but I haven’t cried yet haha, I doubt I’ll be able to sleep.
My tips are; DONT GET THIS DONE, STAY UP TO CHECK WITH YOUR MEDS(Jot the times when you took them down too, it helps, trust me) and please please if you’re just having this done try to eat solids straight away whilst you’re numb from the meds when you first wake up, I know it sounds extremely dumb but it speeds up the healing and actually makes it less painful to swallow later on.
I hope it’ll get better for us, just hang in there guys!!
I’m 28 and had tonsillectomy and adenoids removed in the 16th after having gallbladder removed in the 13th. Up to date, cold drinks and eats were best until today, day 3-1/2 and 4, when the ear pain set in. My Lortab narcotic syrup is only lasting about 3 hours, but I’m taking it every 4.5-5 as directed, alternating with children’s Motrin which has minimal effects on pain. The swallowing and ear pain is tremendous. I go in later today for an antinflammatory steroid shot, but am finding hot tea with honey and warm broth helps the ear pain substantially. It’s still keeping me up at night. Looking forward to getting this all behind me.
I got mine out on Dec 21 – this is day 13 counting surgery day. I promise it does get better, just not soon enough. Most of the pain in my throat has subsided by now. I found that using a cool mist humidifier really did help. I had it on 24/7 up until two nights ago. I constantly drank a mixture of half water and half Gatorade. I’m also drinking two protein shakes a day since I’m not able to get down much food. I’ve only recently started to eat solids, but still more soft solids and it takes me a good amount of time to eat something small. My only issue is ear pain which absolutely kills! It started around day 4 or 5 and still hasn’t got better. Drinking water or taking hydrocodon brings even more intense pain to my ear. I tried to switch to Tylenol to get off the pain killlers, but it did absolutely nothing for my ear.
I’m scheduled to be back at work on Jan 3… I’m not sure how I’ll be able to handle that. Ah, when will it get better?! Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?!
My 19 year old had her tonsils and adenoids removed on Jan 4. The first few days were what you thought the pain would be from burning out the tonsils. Very painful,, but what was after was worse. The swelling,canker sores, jaw and neck pain. Swallowing nearly impossible. My daughter is usually a whip when it comes to pain but I don’t know how she did this! I kept reading here and finding new remedies which some helped I believe. As a care taker it’s so hard to understand what hurts. Now that it seems to be over ISH, I can say she drank water the whole time from the minute she left from the hospital.ice packs on her neck. I had her chew gum and take melds! She was started on Tylenol/codine but day 3 had to get stronger script. Oxy next. She was not a fan of oxy and Liquid Tylenol seemed to almost work as well, for pain. But to relax her the oxy helped that. We ran a humidifier in her room all night, and slept propped up. Did not wake her up for med doses. Mornings were the worst.
She did not eat anything till day 6. Water only, nothing appealed to her. No ice cream, popsicles, jello,yogurt, just water which Dr. said was fine. Day 6,Panera mac n cheese!! After that she recovered faster. So now that the light at the end of tunnel is here- ISH. I an say these things helped:
WATER and ice on neck, the most!!! Gum, medication, drink warm or cold water. Sleep sitting up. wedge pillow. And hot packs for the severe ear pain which I think was a bit less thanks to chewing gum.
Eating to see how she wakes up today she has not had oxy for 2 days. Just Tylenol. And not even that often. Swallowed a pill last night so no liquid Tylenol. Would I do it again? Only time I’ll tell.
My name is Jessica and I’m 23. I got my tonsils and adenoids removed Dec 27, so I’m on day 6 of recovery.
The ear pain started two days ago for me. I was told the ear pain starts as the scab at the back of throat is falling off (which is a good thing).
To help with the ear pain, try “cupping” your ears. Lay on one side with your ear facing down and putting a pillow or towel over the other ear. This can help decrease pressure and transfer pain. This method is used with children who have a lot of feedback from their hearing aids.
Although I have been in pain, nothing has been too severe. I sleep with two humidifiers and keep them on throughout the entire day/night. I set a timer to take pain medicine every 4 hours even if that means waking up in the middle of the night. I am on liquid hydrocodone, a steroid, an antibiotic, and an anti nausea medicine which have really helped.
For the first couple of days, cold foods really upset my throat. I drank warm mint tea with honey, applesauce, and chicken broth. As well as LOTS of water no matter how much it hurts.
After that, I tried mac n cheese, scrambled eggs, and some soft baked potato and onions.
Feeling like I’m starving is one of the hardest things next to the ear pain. I’ve tried oatmeal and that’s too painful.
After day 7, I plan to stop taking the liquid hydrocodone as that can cause bowel movement issues. Highly suggest taking stool softeners or laxatives if you’re past day 7 and haven’t had a BM.
My sleeping schedule is also up for an hour, sleep for three. Sleeping is going to help since you have no calories to do anything, heal, and help you forget about the pain.
Also, listen to your body. If you are in extreme pain, bleeding, or something doesn’t feel right, contact your doctor or ER. Just because something works well or doesn’t work well for someone else doesn’t mean it will or won’t work for you.
After all the articles and friends I’ve spoken with, their turning point day was between 7-10. Mine seemed to come earlier, but the ear pain is in full effect! Thinking of all of you on this journey 🙂
Hi Jess,
I am about the same age as you–I turn 22 on Feb 4–and although I know everyone is different, I was hoping you could give me some sort of update as to how you are feeling now, how you felt after a week/a month…I am scheduled to travel from the US to England in a month, and I’m scared after reading through these posts.
I really did need the surgery, my tonsils were so big I couldn’t breathe or sleep and I was waking myself up snoring (and not that I can deny this being vain, but I couldn’t stand to sound like a 12 year old girl anymore with that nasal thing I had going on).
So far, although the pain IS terrible, I don’t know that I could say I wouldn’t have the surgery again; I’m really just hoping this was all worth it. I am currently on day 5 counting the morning I had the surgery…how are you feeling?